France is wary of the likely return of the English "shadow" in their Rugby world Cup semi-final clash next Sunday.

Coach Bernard Laporte named an unchanged starting side but made four changes to his bench for the clash which will decide which of the traditional European giants will represent the northern hemisphere in the final the following week.

A gigantic back row battle looms with the formidable French trio of flankers Serge Betsen and Olivier Magne and No.8 Imanol Harinordoquy up against an English trio bolstered by the return from a hamstring injury of blindside flanker Richard Hill.

"Hill is one of their key players," said Betsen, France's first choice blindside flanker.

"In France we say he's a player from the shadows, from the darkness, he's very important to them."

Betsen acknowledged a key part of his job on Sunday would be to try and limit the influence of England five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson.

The French back row effectively shackled Wilkinson in the Six Nations match in Paris in 2002, but enjoyed less success this year when the England pivot stood deeper.

"In the last Six Nations match Wilkinson was playing a bit deeper from scrums and lineouts and they put on a second fly half Mike Catt and it was harder tactically to decide which one to tackle first," Betsen said.

"It is a bit more difficult. I think it's very interesting and it makes it a challenge."

Halfback Galthie, a grizzled veteran of numerous Franco-Anglo battles, pointed out England had won most of its matches decisively despite a widely held perception it was struggling for form.

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